a foal question im afraid

[jessikaGinger]

How do you make foals world proof?
nothing inparticular
just little things like lawnmovers being turned on as we walk past, car doors slamming, kids crying..you know just stuff

Also my foal finds going through open gates quite a task, she stops dead as were coming up to a 'open' gate then hops over the line where the gate would be if it was closed, then walks on happy as larry
Nothing has ever happend to her whilst walking through either

Odd ball!!

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I got my filly when she was weaned and she lead nicely in a headcollar and she had been in the trailer. She had been around a yard enviroment but had never been 'out and about'.

I decided to expose her (gently and carefully) to as much as possible. She was put in a paddock by a very busy main road with an older and bombproof mare. She soon learnt that as the mare was happy, she didn't need to worry about cyclists, cars, lorries etc... either. Once she was bitted I started to lead her out down quiet lanes.

I think that the key to young horses is to expose them to lots of different things but in a controlled way so that it will go well. Also repeat things alot but over time. Once she's gone through the gateway 100 times she'll be used to it and not worry about it any more.

 

[horseless jorge!]

Definitely repetion with babies, and often you have to be a little bit firmer with them. Babies don't know how to be naughty or terribly afraid (unless they've had a bad start), they only know how to be babies, and in the wild, if they did something that mum didn't like, then mum would get a bit more firm with them. You just need to be calm, patient and say come on now, you really ARE ok.

 

[orionstar]

Repetition and reasurance, but make sure you dont over do it as their brain can only process one lesson at a time at that age (bit like men). It took Orion several goes to walk through the stream at the farm without trying to leap into my lap, but now he walks through it without batting an eyelid. He did walk straight over the blue tarpauline in the arena first time though and i was so chuffed I could have burst. Having an older bom proof horse around the yard when tractors are driving past helps, just make sure you are doing your utmost to remain cool and calm in any situation so foalie gets the right signals. His field borders a main road and that has really helped with the traffic, but he has started to mug passers by for treats!

 

[jessikaGinger]

Oh Orionstar that made me LO (men)

Thanks for your brill advice, i was worried about too much too soon shes 7weeks old today shes used to carrier bags, headcollar and lead and picking up feet and now and then barking dogs

Luckily im quite a chilled person and my mare's bombproof (just naughty) so i treat baby how i would her

With water, we have no puddles at our yard EVER!! but i really want her to get used to walking through it? she's had a shower if that helps?

 

[Enfys]

With water, we have no puddles at our yard EVER!! but i really want her to get used to walking through it? she's had a shower if that helps?

Leave the hosepipe running so there is a puddle?

I have poles underneath most of my gates, the foals soon learn to walk over them as if they aren't there.

Traffic, there's always something going past on the yard, the foal just gets used to it. I drive the quad and the tractor through the barn, he carries on sleeping. He was born with the quad running beside him because there was a power cut and the quad was lighting the barn.
We are also in crop country here, you can't see the foal but he was sleeping when I took this.

I hate this phrase but 'baby steps' is very apt.